Clean Energy Via Landfill Art To Power NYC

What if blighted landscapes surrounding cities could become renewable energy parks/public art projects? The 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) competition ought to offer some inspiration for urban planners, artists and fans of renewable energy.

This recurring competition challenges designers to create art installations that produce renewable energy. Last year’s challenge took place in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates — in 2012, the challenge will be to beautify and electrify a site within Freshkills Park (a.k.a., the former Fresh Kills landfill) in New York City.

image via LAGI

According to LAGI co-founders Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry, “the stunning beauty of the reclaimed landscape and the dramatic backdrop of the Manhattan skyline will provide an opportune setting from which to be inspired.” They go on to note that the former landfill offers the perfect environment to showcase the great potential of “aesthetically interesting renewable energy installations for sustainable urban planning.”

image via LAGI

According to LAGI, the size of the design site at Freshkills Park has the potential to power thousands of homes with public artworks that marry conceptual beauty with the ability to harness energy cleanly from nature. A detailed design brief will be released on the LAGI website upon the opening of the competition in early 2012, but is expected to be similar to the guidelines from past events.

Susan DeFreitas has covered all manner of green technology for EarthTechling since 2009. She is a graduate of Prescott College for the Liberal Arts and the Environment, and has a background in marketing green businesses. Her work on green living has been featured in Yes! Magazine, the Utne Reader and Natural Home.